I think the Jeeps are "trail rated" if they include a skid-plate package of some kind.

I did some research and I think it is a combination of the skid plates and the fact that you can take off the lower front facia which you can not on the summit, and which probably would brake if one did any serious off-road.

I think the Jeeps are "trail rated" if they include a skid-plate package of some kind.

No, we've been around this circle a few times. You can find an exception to any rule. For example. our liberty is trail rated and the only difference between it and others not trail rated is that it has a touch screen radio.... there is no skid plates... go figure.

Bottom line, its a marketing thing, don't worry about it. There isn't anything special that makes a vehicle trail rated except Jeep gluing a trail rated badge on the fender

No technical or functional reason for why one jeep gets a sticker while another on doesn't. Perhaps look at it as jeep driving a model or two through the rubicon and putting a sticker on the same production configuration.

The bottom line is that the MY14 Summit is not marketed for off-road, but is certainly just as capable of the same level of off-road that other trim levels have, although it does require you to add certain things, such as skid plates, tow hooks (requires physical body modification) and more appropriate wheels/tires for that use beyond "very light" off-road. The "Trail Rated" badge is just a piece of plastic with a sticky back...

I think the real trail rating comes when you take your vehicle off road and on the trail, have a bunch of fun, don't need towed out (of course you might need towed if the driver isn't trail rated), and make it back to the road.